CLINTON, Miss. – The Lee women's basketball team ran out to an 18-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 35-14 by halftime in posting a 61-38 victory over Mississippi College inside A.E. Wood Coliseum on Thursday evening.
The 23rd ranked Lady Flames improved to 19-4 overall and 17-2 in GSC play. The Lady Choctaws dropped to 5-19, 4-17. Lee will move on over to Cleveland, Mississippi on Friday and then face Delta State on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
"I thought we were really good for the most part tonight defensively," stressed Lee head coach Marty Rowe. "We moved our legs with purpose and urgency. We have to do a better job of valuing possessions and taking advantage of open shots (against Delta State on Saturday), but anytime you can win on the road in this league, it's a good night."
Mallory Hampton paced the Lady Flames scoring with 16 points. She made 5-of-9 shots overall and went to the free-throw line to sink 5-of-6. Hannah Garrett came off the bench to tally 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. She converted 3-of-4 freebies. Haley Schubert played only in the first half but still finished with 11 points and a team-leading eight rebounds. She joined with Hampton for a combined seven steals.
Macy Woodworth added nine points while Morgan Carbaugh pulled down five rebounds to go along with five points and Mia Hurst also had five boards as the Lady Flames outrebounded the Lady Choctaws 38-31.
Shooting wise, Lee connected on 41% of its shots from the field (22-of-54) but struggled badly from long range making just 2-of-18. However, it did march to the line hitting 15-of-20 free throws. The Lady Flames dominated points in the paint outscoring the host club 38-14 in points down low.
Dezirae King paced the Lady Choctaws with nine points. Carley Hudspeth and Brett Gardner added eight markers apiece while Hudspeth was her team's leading rebounder with five. The Lee defense held Mississippi College to 27% shooting overall (13-of-48) and 25% from 3-point range (3-of-12). The Lady Choctaws converted 9-of-11 free throws.
